Posts by: Zoë Caron
Cross-posted from ForSerious.ca
Confessional time. I am in a rocky relationship with Jim Prentice.
I should have seen it coming, I really should have, as I suppose all good relationships must come to an end. Your true colours showed through, Jim, and not in a good, Cyndi Lauper kind of way.
The Honourable Jim Prentice began his speech to members of the University of Calgary School of Public Policy and School of Business on February 1 - though, at first, I could have sworn he was right next to me whispering sweet nothings in my ear - with soothing words about the federal government’s energy and climate change: read more…
Cross-posted from ForSerious.ca
Confessional time. I am in a rocky relationship with Jim Prentice.
I should have seen it coming,…
The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), Canada’s largest news service, asked this question yesterday on their Power & Politics program. My answer is below, and you can add yours or ‘agree and disagree’ with posted comments by clicking here.
No and yes.
The federal government knows, and agrees with, what the science is saying. The sticking point is it is acting in a manner that assumes Canada deserves to pollute more than other rich and industrialized countries.
The government should step up to the plate and commit to doing our part. Canada is now among the top 10 greenhouse gas polluters in the world and is among the top 3 polluters per capita. Yet, every single G8 country is doing more than Canada on global warming. The US, for example, is investing 14x more in renewable energy per capita this year than Canada.
[Read: It's like showing up to a world pot-luck where every one else has cooked a meal and Canada thinks it's appropriate to show up with a bag of potato chips.]
Canada should recognize it is in a very lucky situation in the world to have the ability to invest in, build and develop a clean economy based on leading edge energy efficiency and renewable energy.
[Read: We're the ones that could show up to our place at the table and offer a whole lot more - preferably with ambition, i.e. to the tune of brie, rosemary olive bread, and molten brownies.]
Canada should sign, adopt and implement Bill C-311. It is the government’s responsibility to develop a tough plan that includes Canadian laws to control greenhouse gas pollution to match the recommendations of scientists.
We did it to stop the pollution that caused the hole in the ozone layer - We can do it to fill the hole in our country’s leadership.
Our Canadian tracker Zoë Caron has an answer that’s about to be tested in Barcelona…
Read post →So here’s why I interrupted my frivolous YouTube watching of recent Glee episodes (which I watch primarily to life-plan for the day that climate change is solved and I can finally pursue my dream of amateur Broadway. It’s between that and becoming the Jodie Foster à la Contact):
It’s that time of month again. Alllll the countries in the world (that can afford it) are in Bankok for a United Nations meeting on climate change. There has been a handful of them this year, about once every 6 weeks. They are discussion and working meetings for countries to talk about their climate change commitments.
The last of this year (where all the decisions have to be made) is in Copenhagen in December. (Kind of like each week of So You Think You Can Dance Canada leading up to the final showdown, and everybody wins in their heart regardless of those who technically come out on top.)
One would think, hope, etc, that the United Nations is an efficient and effective playground for ideas and decisions that ultimately impact the world for the better. Today in “plenary”, the main hall in talks that include all countries, Canada dragged out the conversation for a little longer than I would deem allowable, even by democratic standards.
Continue reading “World Compares Apples to Apples” here…
So here’s why I interrupted my frivolous YouTube watching of recent Glee episodes (which I watch primarily to life-plan for…
Read post →I can’t stand either. (Read: Major gaps existing in otherwise quite good material and design.)
Said tights.
Among the most important memos of the 21st century (aside from ‘It’s highly respected to still know all the words to New Kids on the Block’s ‘Step by Step’” and ‘No, it’s not okay to wear tights as pants, especially the slitted ones from American Apparel.’) is: ‘All other governments in the developed world are doing way more on climate change than Canada’.
Memos are what they are. Pop culture stands strong, fads fade (or are imagined), and the ambition of government tends to fall out of their pocket unnoticeably as they run down the halls of Parliament to their next meeting.
Continue reading Slit-leggings at American Apparel and Current Climate Policy in Canada
I can’t stand either. (Read: Major gaps existing in otherwise quite good material and design.)
Among the most important memos…
I emailed Canada’s Chief Negotiator Michael Martin this morning to check in on the United Nations climate change discussions happening this week in Bonn, Germany. He soothed my heart by responding immediately from his BlackBerry amidst the main LCA session.
(LCA stands for Long-term Cooperative Action — or, more descriptively, Leaders Can’t-get-enough Airtime — or, more solution-oriented, Lend Canada Advice — or, depending on the day, Let’s Clap for the Americans.)
We’re heading into five days of climate talks. Here’s where we left off, and where we need to go:
Continue reading »
I emailed Canada’s Chief Negotiator Michael Martin this morning to check in on the United Nations climate change discussions happening…
Read post →